University Acquires Big Cat For Display

People with an interest in the phenomenon of big cats will be able to view a stuffed version of the real thing in Aberdeen.

The zoology museum at Aberdeen University recently acquired a Kellas cat that was killed in lowland Aberdeenshire several weeks ago.

It is now on display in a glass cage at the foyer of the zoology building and available for free viewing, having been mounted by taxidermist George Jamieson.

There have been numerous sightings of so-called big cats in the North-east in recent months, which have attracted great interest and media attention.

Martyn Gorman, reader in zoology at the University of Aberdeen, said: "I think it will be an interesting feature for people to see.

"The public are currently fascinated with alleged sightings in the countryside of big cats, many of them black.

"Most such sightings are probably of the so-called Kellas cat. It has been named after the village in Moray, where several have been shot.

"They are the offspring between domestic cats and Scottish wildcats and are black, apart from a white throat and chest patch and scattered white guard hairs.

"The creatures have the classic square-ended tail of the wildcat and are not much bigger than a large domestic tomcat - but people seeing one in bad lighting conditions could be forgiven for misjudging its size, particularly if there is nothing nearby for comparison."